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Dengue fever (pronounced DEN-geh) is a viral tropical disease transmitted by mosquito bites. There is no vaccine or medical cure and treatments only manage the symptoms of the disease, some of which can be fatal. The only possible preventive measures are to prevent the breeding of mosquitoes and to avoid mosquito bites.

Dengue is not infectious between humans. Dengue is transmitted to humans by the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which is found in tropical regions throughout the world. In much of this area, particularly South-East Asia but also in Queensland, Australia, the tropical South Pacific islands, South Asia, Africa, tropical parts of North and South America, including the Caribbean, these mosquitoes carry the flavivirus, which causes Dengue fever.

Signs and symptoms

Onset of the disease is often signaled by a sudden high fever (40-41°C) with strong head, joint and muscle pains. This is usually soon followed by a bright red rash, often starting on the lower limbs, but may spread from the torso to the arms, legs, and face. Nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain are also common. Mild cases without rash may be easily misdiagnosed as flu. These symptoms usually appear 3-14 days (most commonly 4-7 days) after being bitten by an infected mosquito.

The acute symptoms of the disease typically last 6-7 days, however it can take many months to fully recover. There is no specific treatment, other than fever management. The symptoms can be alleviated with appropriate medication and fatality rates can be less than 1 in 1000.

The most serious complication is dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF), in which blood vessels start to leak and cause bleeding from the nose, mouth, and gums. Untreated DHF can lead to dengue shock syndrome (DSS), which is lethal in 90% of cases unless promptly and correctly treated, in which case fatality rates can fall as low as 1%, depending on quality of treatment.

Treatment

In areas with dengue, if you feel ill (especially after being bitten by a mosquito) see a hospital, doctor or health center fast: the presence of dengue can be confirmed with a blood test. Also, do not self-medicate without medical advice. Some common over-the-counter medicines may cause Dengue to become very strong and, sometimes, lethal. Medicines such as aspirin and ibuprofen, commonly sold as headache remedies, increase the risk of dengue hemorrhagic fever. Any medication containing acetylsalicyclic acid or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents should be avoided. Paracetamol (acetominophen) is often used instead to manage the fever and pain.

Preventative measures

Preventative measures to control Dengue fever include:

Prevention or elimination of standing water sources, such as pools of water that collect in containers, flower pots, discarded tyres or coconut shells, etc. The Dengue Mosquito will breed in any standing water in a matter of days.

Use of mosquito netting.

Use of insect repellent as well as wearing clothing that covers exposed skin.

Research into a vaccine is being undertaken. As of 2013, there has been no announcement for the vaccine to combat against dengue fever.